Security boss convicted of obstructing regulator’s investigation

The director of a Manchester-based security company has been ordered to pay over £3,500 after failing to comply with an investigation into the suspected deployment of unlicensed security operatives.

Katie O’Neill, the director of I-Guard Security Ltd, ignored several requests for information and invitations to interview from the Security Industry Authority (SIA) last year.

The SIA first began investigating I-Guard Security Ltd after receiving intelligence from Merseyside Police that unlicensed security operatives had been deployed to a venue in Liverpool. The SIA requested information from O’Neill in March 2024 regarding security provision for the venue but received no reply.

On 22 April 2024 the SIA sent a further request for information. O’Neill did not respond to this second request. The SIA then invited her to attend an interview under caution in respect of her refusal to provide the information requested. When she did not respond the SIA began prosecution proceedings.

Manchester Magistrates’ Court sentenced O’Neill on 9 January 2025. The court fined her £1,100 and ordered her to pay a victim surcharge of £440 plus prosecution costs of £2,000.

Mark Chapman, Criminal Investigations Manager at the SIA, said:

As regulator for the private security sector, our priority is ensuring that security companies operate within the law, and that their staff are properly trained and licensed to perform their role. When we suspect wrongdoing and need information for our investigations, we have the statutory powers to request this.

Katie O’Neill failed to respond to such a request. It is an offence to ignore our requests or obstruct our investigation and she has now paid the price. I hope this case serves as a warning to others that we at the SIA take these matters seriously and will not hesitate to act to ensure those who break the law are held accountable for their actions.